the especially is glaring in the key swing states of florida, colorado and nevada where registered hispanic voters have increased 1% since 2008. >> today we showed them that we demanded at the ballot box, they can't ignore it. we're here. we're voting, paying attention. >> reporter: joe vazquez, cbs 5. >> and for the first time ever, americans approved gay marriage at the ballot box. same-sex couples celebrated the results in seattle. washington state, maryland and maine are now the first states to approve gay marriage with a public vote. >> it feels completely amazing. we want to be fully married in our state so this is with -- exhilarating, beyond exciting. >> washington, maine and maryland join six other states and the district of columbia in allowing gay marriage. but it's legal in those other states because of actions by judges or legislators, not voters. california is one of 38 states that passed bans on gay marriage. mostly by amending constitutions to define marriage as between one man and one woman. >>> put simply, last night was all about electing people to make decisions for you.